Month: August 2018

At Tree House, we believe every healthy and treatable cat deserves to have a forever home – including cats with special needs and chronic illnesses such as Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV).

First FeLV+ Adoption Program in Chicago

So, What is Feline Leukemia Virus

Many people are unfamiliar with FeLV, and, sadly, many cats who have the disease are euthanized due to a lack of adequate resources or knowledge. FeLV positive (FeLV+) cats can live happy and healthy lives even though their lives might be shorter than an FeLV negative cat. Tree House knew there had to be a better way, so we created a permanent FeLV adoption room at our new shelter.

Tree House became the only shelter in Chicago, and one of the few in the country, with a dedicated adoption program for FeLV+ cats. Since that time, we have become a resource for shelters throughout the Midwest, and many FeLV+ cats have been transferred to Tree House who might otherwise have been euthanized.

It’s Not Cancer

Contrary to some beliefs, FeLV is not cancer. It is a virus that breaks down a cat’s immune system, making the cat more susceptible to illnesses that otherwise do not impact healthy cats. These secondary illnesses are what typically lead to an FeLV+ cat’s death. While the estimated lifespan of a cat with FeLV is three to four years, we’ve had many FeLV+ cats who have lived much longer.

Sherlock is a great example of a cat who is doing very well with FeLV. A burly cat with a great personality to match, Sherlock is a loveable guy who was transferred to Tree House from another shelter that lacked the resources to help him. He is a healthy and happy FeLV+ cat who is now four years old.

Curious and silly, Sherlock loves people, and it was a wonderful day when Morgan and Katherine came to Tree House for a visit and gave this great guy a home. After visiting several other shelters, Katherine shared, “I knew the minute I walked into Tree House that this was the place for me.” She returned that weekend with her husband. They were open to learning more about FeLV – it is always so heartwarming when potential adopters are willing to give cats with special needs a chance and take the time to learn more about FeLV.

Sherlock loves his new “cat daddy”. After talking to our adoption counselors, Katherine and Morgan felt that it was something they could easily handle, “Every kitty in the FeLV+ adoption room would have been an option for us, but Sherlock was ours from the beginning. [It was] love at first sight.”

Sherlock is settling into home life very well. “We are very grateful to Tree House for taking such great care of Sherlock and helping us find him.”

Sherlock likes to sit on his quilt and watch the traffic go by. He loves all his toys – for about three minutes, and then it is time to clean himself and pretend he was not just acting the goof. He is a constant companion – on the couch, in the bed, and right by the chair at mealtimes.

Giving FeLV+ Cats a Second Chance

We are thrilled for Katherine, Morgan, and Sherlock. We hope this story inspires others to learn more about cats with Feline Leukemia Virus and to consider adopting them. These cats deserve a home, and while the time you have with them may be less, the love and joy they bring will fill your heart for much longer!

Support our efforts to help FeLV+ cats and the many other cats who struggle with illness, injuries, and chronic medical conditions.

Isaac was clearly struggling. Imagine the terror this poor cat was feeling: trapped in the middle of a busy Chicago street — turning in every direction, only to be confronted with another car rushing past. Isaac didn’t know how to get to safety.

It was only a matter of time before Isaac would be hit by a passing car and severely injured or killed.

Drivers Sprang into Action

Remarkably, several Good Samaritans saw that he was struggling and stopped their cars in the street, surrounding Isaac to protect him from oncoming traffic. One driver jumped out of her car and pulled him to safety. Immediately, she could tell Isaac was suffering and called Tree House for help!

In Bad Shape

When Isaac arrived at Tree House, he needed urgent care. During his initial veterinary examination, our clinic team discovered that Isaac had severe and painful infections in both ears and very limited vision — both of which contributed to his disorientation. He was also missing 13 teeth and suffering from dental disease, which is not uncommon for cats who are malnourished from living on the streets. In addition to treating his ear infections and extracting several infected teeth, we biopsied his tumor.

When Isaac arrived, his first and most noticeable condition was a large raw tumor bulging on his right shoulder. Tests revealed his tumor was cancerous. But this beautiful cat’s good fortune continued — the type of cancer he had rarely spreads or recurs. We removed the tumor and his prognosis is very good!

A New Start

We placed Isaac with one of our foster parents so he could rest and recover and have the security of a warm bed, food, and water along with the love that he so desperately needed.

Isaac has healed incredibly well both physically and emotionally. He is a bit camera shy but a sweet and affectionate cat who turned out to be a real snuggler. He loves taking naps on a comfy lap. Despite being a senior cat with limited vision, Isaac is an active boy who enjoys playtime.

Ready for a Home

Thanks to people like you, Isaac is safe at Tree House and ready to be adopted. We hope this deserving cat will not have to wait long for his new home! Please share Isaac’s story to help him find a loving home.

Your Gift Helps Even More Cats Like Isaac

There are thousands of cats just like Isaac living outside in Chicago – many of whom are struggling. We believe every cat deserves to live a safe and healthy life.

We have a heartwarming update about a cat named Ella. This stunning beauty was found roaming the streets and brought to Tree House. Coming off the street and settling into shelter life can be challenging, and Ella’s fears and anxieties came out in the form of overstimulation. Shelter life was difficult for Ella. She was hesitant and cautious at Tree House and liked to have her space. Sadly, this made it hard for individuals to get to know the sweet cat underneath her fears…until one fateful day when she met her new family.

Addie (12 years old) and her mom, Liz, began visiting Tree House when Addie was just 7 years old. Liz shared that Addie struggled with anxiety, and the pair began volunteering. Being at Tree House and with the cats and kittens was very positive in helping Addie learn how to work with her “everyday worries”. For several of her birthdays, this compassionate little girl conducted collections at her parties to raise money for the cats in lieu of gifts.

“Ahhh…life is so good in a home!”

A few months ago, after losing their cat Teddy after 22 years, Liz and her husband, Eric, along with Addie decided to check out Tree House’s new shelter – but with the agreement that there would be no adoptions because Eric wasn’t quite ready.

The family met Ella and were provided with some guidance on how to approach her to help avoid overstimulating her. However when they entered her room, “Ella walked right up to Eric and sat down in front of him. We hung out for a little while, then Addie and I moved on to the next room, but Eric stayed with Ella. Needless to say, when we left, we all decided we needed to spend more time with Ella.”

Liz, Eric, and Addie came back to visit Ella and that was all it took, “She broke our hearts and healed them at the same time, and we brought her home that day.”

We are so grateful to Liz, Eric, and Addie for taking the time to understand this beautiful cat, see beyond her anxieties and fears, and give her a chance.

Ella is doing great in her new home! “She’s very curious about where we are. And when we come home, she runs out like a puppy to greet us.” Ella loves her morning “zoomies”, “She runs the path from the basement to the 2nd floor of the house.” She also enjoys soaking up the morning sun in the bay window.

Addie has given her a middle name, so she is now Ella Forrester Brown – plus, she started an Instagram account for Ella. “We love her very much.” The family continues to work with Ella’s overstimulation issue which has improved. She is even attempting to become a snuggler.

We are so grateful to Liz, Eric, and Addie for giving Ella a second chance and a loving home. What a wonderful story about the cat-human bond as well as the powerful healing effects this bond can have on children!

We are happy to be able to share an adoption update about two easygoing cats, Morris and Sammy, who were recently adopted together.

Liang and her husband Casey visited Tree House, “determined to adopt that day after the recent death of our beloved cat Mieville.” Casey had adopted Mieville many years ago before meeting Liang. Mieville was Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Positive (FIV+) and had 11 good years in his forever home, “We attributed his calm, kind demeanor to the wonderful socialization he received at Tree House. When we were ready to fill our home again, we knew we had to return to Tree House at their amazing new location.”

Now fondly referred to as The Beefy Boys, these two have taken over their new home. These lovable guys can be found wrestling each other, lazily lounging around their new home, or meowing ferociously — begging to be fed.

Liang shared their experience of meeting Morris and Sammy at Tree House, “The Saturday of adoption day, both of us were wracked with nerves. We were so excited, but had no idea what to expect! All we knew was that we would shortly be growing our family by two. Casey and I both agreed that we wanted to adopt adult cats and were open to cats with special needs. Sammy was in one of the first cat adoption rooms we visited. He approached us right away and perched gracefully on a cat condo. His sleek, tuxedo coat and cute black goatee drew our attention, and he loved rubbing his face and neck against our hands. [He had] a shy demeanor, and the most adorable “elevator butt”! He was instantly one of my favorites.”

They continued visiting cats at our shelter when, “This beefy orange and white, 15 lb. furball strutted into the middle of the adoption room. We loved how he [Morris] seemed like a luxurious boy, commanding to be petted. Despite his big ‘tude’, he was also very gentle and welcoming. We considered how these two cats would get along and decided to take the chance.”

The two cats love to wrestle and hang out together. After arriving in their new home, “By the end of the first night, Morris was walking around like he owned the place. Sammy was hesitant and slowly came out of his shell over the next several days. Introducing the two to each other was a breeze — they nose-booped and the rest is history!”

“Sammy and Morris have brought so much joy into our lives. We will continue to adopt from Tree House for the rest of our lives as they have truly helped us in so many ways!”

Morris was obese for his size when he arrived at Tree House. We are glad to learn he has continued to slim down in his new home, “his svelte new figure weighs in at around 13 lbs!”

We are so grateful to Liang and Casey for giving these beauties a loving, forever home together and for their wonderful support of Tree House.